Seattle Press on Line - Study Shows Neighborhoods Want Monorail, Not Light Rail

Study Shows Neighborhoods Want Monorail, Not Light Rail

Feb 08, 2001 -- Do you really want a monorail in your neighborhood? Seattle City Council Member Nick Licata says yes, you do. He commissioned a study on a monorail corridor from West Seattle, through downtown and Ballard, and in January released a statement about his findings.

Licata found that community leaders from neighborhoods along the likely monorail routes are "supportive, not fearful, of a monorail." While they are concerned about being heard at all stages of the planning process, they generally "do not fear the impact of a monorail as some communities have feared the physical impact of a light rail." In fact, neighborhood leaders tend to believe the monorail "will benefit their communities in ways that the light rail does not."

In his statement, Licata proposed that the city "take two strong steps toward fulfilling its obligation." First, he recommends that the Department of Neighborhoods and the Elevated Transit Company (ETC) work closely with community groups during the monorail design process, beginning no later than this spring.

Second, Licata insists that the city "must build trust. The public's perception of the city being a reluctant partner with ETC in preparing a monorail plan can only be overcome by taking an aggressive stance." He demands that the city devote plenty of staff time and resources to the project, so that we do not "end up with a politically popular but functionally unworkable monorail plan."

For a copy of the full report, see www.elevated.org or contact Licata's aide, Newell Aldrich, at 386-9011.

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